Hu Xijin on Guiding Public Opinion

Since 2010, the U.S. embassy in Beijing has maintained a Twitter feed with hourly air quality readings. Beijingers distrustful of the city government’s reports found ways to surmount the Great Firewall and access the embassy feed. Enormous discrepancies between embassy and local air quality measurements, combined with a few exceptionally bad days of smog last winter, seem to have lead the municipal government to improve its air quality monitors.

HuXijin: One of the reasons for the U.S. embassy’s growing activity is its group of followers within China. Through the Internet, they enter into a tacit agreement with the embassy, while also helping the embassy disseminate information through traditional media. This is a normal manifestation of the diversity of Chinese society. We cannot think of the whole thing as a “U.S. embassy conspiracy.” This is often China’s own problem.

HuXijin: China must assiduously guid mainstream public views in [the effective production and convergence of voices] in the public opinion space, clamping down on and balancing pro-U.S. and pro-Western voices. In nearly every country, including countries heavily influenced by the U.S., it is difficult for the pro-U.S. view to gain support. In China, however, at least on Weibo, has become an exception. This is a bit abnormal, and its causes are worthy of deep consideration.

As usual, netizens had a field day with Hu. Below is a sampling of over 1000 comments. Read more on CDT Chinese.

Translated by Deng Bolun.

ArabianYouth: The reason is that you can speak relatively freely on Weibo, so the people’s vehement dissatisfaction comes spewing out. All other websites have been harmonized. If you can’t see dissatisfaction, does this prove a happy society? @HuXijin

NiuniuLovesKaka: The mainstream you’re talking about would be People’s Daily, right? You should know, only on Weibo can you really sense the people’s will. The People’s Daily is just selling dog meat and calling it lamb.

牛牛爱卡卡：你所说的主流，是指人民日报吧？要知道，微博才真正体会民意，人民日报之流，无非是挂羊头卖狗肉

HappyIsEnough: Other than stirring up nationalist fervor among some people, what else can you do? Pursuing freedom and democracy is wrong. Pursuing better air quality is wrong. I know your children must have gone abroad. Are you f*cking evil? Turning a few normal young people into Maoists.

ChineseCitizen8: If I’m pro-U.S. or pro-West, that’s my right. Do you want me be an [ass-licker] like you? @HuXijin

中国公民8：老子亲美亲西方是老子的自由，难道要老子和你一样舔菊花啊@胡锡进

KubiTranslatorLiu: We are far from being pro-U.S. We are looking forward to a better life. As for your comment “In nearly every country, including countries heavily influenced by the United States, it has been difficult for the pro-U.S. voice to attain a strong position,” please have a look at the immigration policy on U.S. passport holders in the democratically elected governments of those countries heavily influenced by America.

Zi-Fei-Yu: @HuXijin You use “clampdown” very well, very appropriately, just like someone who has practiced various [throat-clenching or wrestling moves]. Very good, and if you can’t clamp down then couldn’t you still remove our vocal chords for free? Perhaps it wouldn’t be free. You still want fifty cents per bullet [for executions], isn’t that right, Editor Hu? @SimaNan @KongQingdong @SongYangbiao @WuFatian

GuyCalledBubbleBobble: Teacher Hu, if you tell us not to be pro-U.S., ask So-and-So’s and So-and-So’s “only children” to come back from the United States and then we’ll see. You do the utmost to send your family to America and then ask the common people to not to be pro-U.S. Who are you fooling?

Laomu 1840: Your own [government] credibility is lacking, what use is it to blame others? What you should think about is why people don’t trust you! Traditional media are all organized, it’s only Weibo that can sound the voice of the people! Everyday it’s guide this, guide that, and your way of thinking is always right. Now you’re looking for volunteer Fifty Centers. In the end it’s ordinary people who pick up the tab. Senior Fifty Center Sima Nan even secretly took his family and money to the United States. What else can you say???

Bickermate: #HuXijin, if the public opinion space needs your guidance, can you still call it mainstream opinion? Do you represent the mainstream? What’s the point of equating truth and progress with the U.S. and the West? This kind of logic wouldn’t come out of a dog’s ass. The people will support whatever best promotes social benefit. If you don’t want to see pro-U.S. and pro-Western, then build a democratic government. What’s the use of playing dumb all the time?